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G. RIFFLARD.

JIG SYSTEM FOR AEROPLANE MANUFACTURE.

APPLICATlON FILED NOV. 13. ms.

1 ,303,596 Patented May 13, 1919.

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ATTORNEYS D] [2;] E LETO1R eumas ari,

G. RIFFLARD. HG SYSTEM FOR AEROPLANE MANUFACIURE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. !3, l9l8.

Patented May 13, 1919.

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APPLICATION FILED NOV. I3. IQIH.

Patented May 13, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 u wmww GEORGES RIFFLARD, OF NEW YORK N. Y.

JIG SYSTEM FOR AEROPLANE MANUFACTURE.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 13, 1919.

Application filed November'13, 1918. Serial No. 262,290.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnomes RIFFLARD, a

' citizen of the Republic of France, residing at New York, in the countyof Bronx and. State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovementsin Jig Systerms for Aeroplane Manufacture; and I do herebydeclare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention,

such as will enable-others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to characters of reference marked thereon, whichform a part of thisspecification.

The present invention relates, generally, to mechanism for use in themanufacture and construction of body frames or fuselages for aeroplanes;and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novelconstruction and system of jigs for forming and assembling the elementsof a body frame or fuselage of an aeroplane.

The invention has for its principal object to provide a novelconstruction and arrangement of jigs, adapted to be mounted upon asuitable work-bench, and-which are operatable to bend the longitudinalchords of the aeroplane frame-work or fuselage into proper shape, andthen correlate the same with each other so that the stanchions andstretchers may be properly assembled therewith ready for the attachmentof the wire ties or truss members which are adapted to secure theelements of the frame-work or fuselage in assembled relation. The use ofthe novel construction of jigs results in a greatsaving of time andlabor in the consummation of the work of assembling an aeroplane bodyframe-Work or fuselage, and also permits of the employment of unskilledlabor for such work in place of the heretofore necessary highly skilledlabor.

Other objects of the present invention, not

at thistime more particularly enumerated,- will be clearly understoodfrom the follow-- ing detailed description of the same.

With the various objects of the present invention in View. the sameconsists, primarily, in the novel arrangement and construction of lgs,for the purposes above mentioned, hereinafter set forth; and, theinvention consists,

furthermore, in the novel arrangements and combinations of the variousdevices and parts, as well'as in the details of the construction ofthesame, all of which will be.

more fullv described in the following specification, and then finallyembodied in the claims appended thereto.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich 2- Figure 1 is a top or plan view ofmy novel construction andsystem of jigs, illustrating how the same are employed in assembling theelements of an aeroplane frame-work or fuselage.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section iihrough the same, taken online 22 in said Fig. 3 is a transverse or cross-section, drawn on anenlarged scale, and showing a jig element on .one side in verticalsection, while the opposite side elevation.

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing in part side elevation and in partlongitudinal vertical section a portion of the system of novel jigelements, said view being also drawn on an enlarged scale.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the hereinabovedescribed views to indicate corresponding parts.

R Referring now to the said drawings, the reference character 1indicates a suitable bench or Work-table upon which the novelconstruction and arrangement of jig elements are mounted. The said jigsare mounted or arranged in transversely disposed sets, longitudinallyspaced apart at proper intervals. Each jig set comprises a transverserail 2, preferably constructed of channel iron, fixed with its channeledside downward to extend across the bench or jig element is shown intable 1, with its ends projecting slightly posed jig standards orframes, each comprising a base-portion 3 having side flanges 4 adaptedto embrace saidirail 2, and upright members 5 and 6 extending upwardlyfrom said base-portion in suitably spaced relation one to the other, thesame being connected together at their upper ends by means of ahorizontal portion 7. Secured upon said rail 2 in the rear of each jigstandard or frame, are stop-devices 8 against which the jig standards orframes are brought to rest, when retracted, to determine their normalinitial positions. The means for imparting the sliding movement of saidjig standards or frames upon said rail comprise lever means 9 pivoted toeach end of said rail by means of the transverse shafts 10 extendingthrough the latter. Said lever means 9 are provided with hand-grasps oroperating handles 11 which are yoke-shaped so as to extend around theends of the rail. Interconnecting the free ends of said lever means 9with the baseportions of said jig-standards or frames areconnecting-links 12, Pull spring means 13 are provided for assisting theforward operative sliding movement of said jig standards or frames onsaid rail, the same being anchored by one of their ends to anintermediate portion of said rail and by the opposite ends to thebase-portions of said jig standards or frames.

In order to lock said jig standards or frames in their forwardly movedoperative position, there is provided in said rail 2 beneath eachbase-portion 3 of each jig standard or frame a longitudinally extendingslot 14. Arranged in the channel of said rail 2,- beneath each jigstandard or frame, is a clamp plate 15, through which extends a bolt 16,the shank of which projects upwardly through said slot 14, and thencethrough. an opening 17 provided in the baseportion 3 of eachjig-standard or frame. The upper end of said bolt shank is threaded toreceive a lock-nut element 18 provided with the hand-wheel flange 19 formanipulating the same. By screwing down the lock-nut element 18 theclamp-plate 15 is drawn upwardly and the base-portion 3 of thejig-standard or frame is forced downwardly into frictionally bound orclamped relation to said rail 2, thereby locking the jig-standard orframe immovably to and upon said rail.

In order to determine the proper amount of inward or forward movement ofthe jig standards or frames, when sliding the same to operativeposition, there is provided in connection with said rail 2, intermediatethe opposed jig standards or frames, a templet member or stop-plate 20,the same being secured in fixed relation to the rail 2 by means of a nutand bolt 21', or any other suitable fastening means' The uprights 5 and6 of each jig standard or frame are provided withuppe'r vertical slots22 and lower vertical slots 23.

The upper slots 22 of the respective uprights are alined opposite toeach other, and in the same manner the lower slots 23 are likewiseallned opposite to each other. Arranged in connection with said upright5, of each jig standard or frame, In association with' t he upper slot22 thereof, for vertical adjustment relative to the jig standardorframe,

is a guide-block comprising two members 24 and 25, Whlch are securedtogether by clamp,

screws 26 for clamping said two members together in proper adjustedposition relatlve to the upright 5,. In like manner, ar-

'each jig standard or frame, in association with the upper slot 22thereof, for vertical adjustment relative to the jig standard or frame,is a guide-block comprising two members 27 and 28, which are securedtogether by clamp-screws 29 for clamping said two members together inproper adjusted position relative to the upright 6. The respectiveguide-blocks comprised by the parts 24 and 25 and 27 and 28 are adjustedand arranged in relative horizontal alinemeut one with the other. Saidguide-block comprised by the parts 27 and 28 is provided with an opening30 in which is slidably mounted a stem or shank 31, provided at one endwith an annular collar or flange 32 from which project outwardly a pairof fork-arms 33 slidably disposed in openings 34 provided in theguide-block comprised by the parts 2-1 and 25. A compression spring 35arranged about said stem or shank 31 between the guide-block comprisedby the parts 27 and 28 and the collar or flange 32 tends to normallyforce said stem or shank forward to project said fork-arms 33 normallyoutward from the outer face of said guide-block comprised by the parts24; and 25. Connected with the rearward end of said stem or shank 31 isa head 36 which normally rests against the outer face of saidguide-block comprised by the parts 27 and 28. Extending transverselythrough said head 36 is a wrist-pin 37. Pivoted on each end of saidwrist pin 37, so as to be disposed one on each side of said head 36 area pair of eccentric cams 38. Said cams are interconnected together, forsimultaneous operation, by means of a l ver loop 39 whereby the cams areoperated. The said cams bear with their peripheries against the outerface of said guide-block comprised by the parts 27 and 28, against whichthey thrust to impart a retracting movement to said stem or shank 31which serves to retract said forkarms 33 from their normal outwardlyprojecting position relative to said. guide-block comprised by the parts24 and 25.

Arranged in connection with said uprights 5 and 6,v in association withthe respective lower slots 23 thereof, is a mechafo rk mechanism andlower fork mechanism.

In order to normally determine and fix the positions of said upper forkmechanism and lower fork mechanism relative to each other and to the jigstandards or frames upon which they are mounted, there is provided inconnection with each upright 5, of each jig standard or frame, a templetmember or stop plate 40, which is fixed upon said upright 5 intermediatethe respective upper fork mechanism and lower fork mech anism by meansof a nut and bolt 41, or by any other suitable fastening means.

The above description defines the detail structure of one jig set. Inpractice a plurality of such jig sets are utilized all constructed inlike manner.

The jig sets are mounted on the bench 1 in a spaced relation one to theother adapted to best position the same to produce, when operated, thedesired curved contour in horizontal plane desired to be produced in thelongitudinal chords of an aeroplane bodyframe or fuselage. Therespective upper fork mechanism and lower fork mechanism of each j igstandard or frame, are normally fixed in vertically adjusted positionrelative to each other adapted to best position the same to produce,when operated, the desiredv curved contour in vertical plane desired tobe produced in the longitudinal chords of an aeroplane body-frame orfuselage.

In operation, the jig sets, thus arranged, are employed in the followingmanner "When operations are begun, thejig standards or frames'of eachset, are retracted to normal initial positions against their respective'stops 8. This results in positioning the jig standards or frames on eachside of the sets thereof in relative straight alinement one with 'theother in a vertical plane, as shown by the dotted representation ofportions of said parts illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The templet members or stop plates 40 of each jig standard or frame areof predetermined size or length so as to position the upper forkmechanisms of each jig set relative to the upper fork mechanisms of theother jig sets to produce the vertical plane curvature desired to heimparted to certain of the longitudinal chords of the aeroplane bodyframe or fuselage, and in like manner, the templet members orstop-plates 40 provide a positioning guide for determining the positionof the lower fork mechanisms of each jig set relative to the lower forkmechanisms of the other jig sets to produce the vertical plane curvaturedesired to be imparted to certain of the other longitudinal chords ofthe aeroplane body-frame or fuselage. The respective upper and lowerfork mechanisms of each jig set are adjusted on the jig standards orframes in stepped relation to said templet members or stop-plates 40,and are then immovably fixed in such positions by clamping theguide-blocks comprised by the parts 24 and 25 and 27 and 28 upon therespective uprights 5 and 6 in such positions.

When thus positioned the eccentric cams 38 are manipulated to retractthe stem or shank 31 to withdraw the fork arms 33 from projection beyondthe face of gthe guide-blocks comprised by the parts 24 and 25.

The workmen, preferably two upon each side of the bench and jig sets,now take a length of straight material from which a longitudinal chord&2 for the aeroplane point of the curve to be formed, and operate theupper forkmechanism of said jig set to project the fork arms 33 toembrace the chord material at such point. -Each .work man now proceedsto work toward the respective free ends of the chord material, and bybearing down on the latter registers or alines the same with the upperfork mechanism of the next adjacent jig set, thus beginning thecurvature desired to be imparted to the chord material. When the chordmaterial is thus positioned and alined opposite the upper fork mechanismof the next adjacent jig set, the Workman operates the eccentric cammechanism 38 to release the stem or shank 31 from retracted position, sothat the spring 35 may move the same forward to project the fork arms 33to embrace the chord material and thus hold the same to the curvature towhich it has thus been forced. Thus the workmen proceed from jig set tojig set until the ends of the chord material are reached, and it willthus be seen, that the desired curvature in verticalplane is imparted tothechord material. In the same manner, the workman operating with thelower fork mechanisms of the several jig sets impart to or set upanother length of chord material in the desired curvature in verticalplane, and thus all four chord members 42 are shaped to the requiredcurves in vertical plane.

This having been accomplished the jig sets are now operated to move thechord members into proper assembled position relative to each other, andat the same time producing therein the desired curvature in horizontalplane to which they are necessarily to be shaped. This operation iseffected by 120,

placing between horizontally opposite chords 42, at an intermediatepoint between thelr ends, the stretcher members 43, then by ogeratingthe levers 9 of opposite jig stan ards or frames of intermediate jigsets, such 125 jig standards or frames are carried slightly forward soas to engage the chords 42 with the ends of thestretchers 43, andstanchions p 44 are engaged between the vertically opposite chords 42 atthe same points ready to Isohave yoke-bolts associated therewith forsecuring the parts together. The workmen now, as may be convenient,slide forward the jig standards or frames against the positioningtemplet members or stop-plates 20, at the same time placing in positionthe several stretchers 43', and stanchions 44 until the chords 42 arefinally curved in horizontal plane to the shape required. It will beapparent that the throw or movement of the several jig standards orframes varies in each jig set to conform to the amount of curve at thelocation of each jig set, and that such throw or movement is determinedby the templet member or stop-plate 20 of each Jig set, said templetmembers or sto plates being of predetermined lengths requisite to theresult required.

It will be apparent that the chord material does not have to be shapedprior to use, thus avoiding much labor heretofore required under thehand built system of fabricating aeroplane frame bodies or fuselages.

It will also be apparent that by the use of the jigs much time and labormay be saved, and also that comparatively unskilled labor may beemployed in place of skilled labor.

When the chords 42, stretchers 43 and stanchions 44 have been assembledtogether in the jigs, as above described, the staywires or trusses 46are secured in interconnecting relation with the said parts in the usualway, and after the completion of this work the jig standards or framesmay be;

retracted on the rails 2 to normal initial position, thus releasing thecompleted bodyframe for removal from the I am aware that some changesmay be made in the several arrangements and combinat-ions of the variousdevices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of thesame without departing from the scope of my present invention as setforth in the foregoing specification and as defined in the appendedclaims. Hence, I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangementsandcombinations of the several devices and parts as described in theforegoing specification, nor do I confine myself to the exact details ofthe construction of the said parts as illustrated. in the accompanyingdrawings.

I claim 1. A system of jigs for assembling the elements of an aeroplanebody-frame or the like comprising, a plurality of jig sets mounted insuitably spaced relation to each other, each jig set comprising a fixedrail, opposed jig standards slidable upon said rails, each jig standardhaving upper fork mechanisms and lower fork mechanisms for embracing andholding the longitudinal chords of an aeroplane body-frame in a desiredproduced curvature in vertical plane, and means for sliding said jigstandards forwardly on said rails for producing a desired curvature ofsaid longitudinal chords in horizontal plane and thus positioning aplurality of said longitudinal chords relative to each other forsecuring thereto in assembledrelation therewith the stretchers,stanchions and trusses of the aeroplane body-frame.

2. A system of jigs for assembling the elements of an aeroplanebody-frame, or the like, comprising a plurality of transversely disposedjigs sets mounted in suitable longitudinally spaced relation to eachother, each jig set comprising a fixed transverse rail, a pair oftransversely opposed jig standards slidably mounted on said rail formovement toward each other, stop means for determining the normalretracted position of said jig standards, lever mechanism pivoted to theends of said rail and interconnected with said jig standards forimparting movement thereto, a templet-member secured to said railintermediate of said opposed jig standards for determining the inwardsliding movement of the latter, and each jig standard having upper forkmechanisms and lower fork mechanisms for embracing and holding thelongitudinal chords of an aeroplane body frame in a desired producedcurvature in vertical plane.

3. A system of jigs for assembling the elements of an aeroplanebody-frame, or the like, comprising a plurality of transversely disposedjig sets mounted in suitable longitudinally spaced relation to eachother, each jig set comprising a fixed transverse rail, a pair oftransversely opposed jig standards slidably mounted on said rail formovement toward each other, stop means for determining the normalretracted position of said jig standards, lever mechanism pivoted to theends of said rail and interconnected with said jig standards forimparting movement thereto, a templet-member secured to said railintermediate of said opposed jig standards for determining the inwardsliding movement of the latter, and each jig standard having upper forkmechanisms and lower fork mechanisms for embracing and holding thelongitudinal chords of an aeroplane body frame in a desired.

produced curvature in vertical plane, each fork mechanism comprisingvertically adjustable forward and rear guide-blocks in horizontalalinement, means for clamping said guide-blocks to said jig standards, astem slidable through said rear 'de-block having an annular shoulder atits forward end to abut against said forward ideblock, vertically alinedfork arms slidable through said forward guide-block for projection fromthe outer face thereof, an eccentric cam mechanism connected with therearward end of said stem to cooperate with said rear guide-block forretracting said stem to withdraw said fork arms from projected positionrelative to said forward guide-block, and templet members fixed uponsaid jig standards intermediate said upper and lower fork mechanisms fordetermining the operative position of said fork mechanisms relative toeach other and to the fork mechanisms of associated jig sets.

4. A system of jigs for assembling the elements of an aeroplanebody-frame, or the like, comprising a plurality of transversely disposedjig sets mounted in suitable longitudinally spaced relation to eachother, each jig set comprising a fixed transverse rail, a pair oftransversely opposed jig standards slidably mounted on said rail formovement toward each other, stop means for determining the normalretracted position of said jig standards, lever mechanisms pivoted tothe ends of said rail and interconnected with said jig standards forimparting movement thereto, spring means for assisting the forwardmovement of each jig standard, locking mechanism for clamping said jigstandards in their forwardly moved positions, a templet member securedto said rail intermediate of said opposed jig standards for determiningthe limits of the .forward movement of said standards, each jig standardhaving upper and lower fork mechanisms for embracing and holding thelongitudinal chords of an aeroplane bodyframe in a desired producedcurvature in vertical plane.

5. A system of jigs for assembling the elements of an aeroplanebody-frame, or the like, comprising a plurality of transversely disposedjig sets mounted in suitable longitudinally spaced relation to eachother, each jig set comprising a fixed transverse rail, a pair oftransversely opposed jig standards slidably mounted on said rail formovement toward each other, stop means for determining the normalretracted position of said jig standards, lever mechanisms pivoted tothe ends of said rail and interconnected with said jig standards forimpart' movement thereto, spring means for assisting the forwardmovement of each a jig standard, locking mechanism for clamping said jigstandards in their forwardly moved positions, a templet member securedto said rail intermediate of said opposed jig standards for determiningthe limits of forward movement of said standards, each jig standardhaving upper and lower fork mechanisms for embracin and holding thelongitudinal chords of an aeroplane bodyframe in a desired producedcurvature in vertical plane, each fork mechanism comprising ahorizontally movable stem having fork-arms for projection beyond theinner face of each jig standard, means for slidably supporting said stemand its fork-arms, and

an eccentric cam mechanism for imparting desired movement to said stemand its forkarms.

6. A system of jigs for assembling the elements of an aeroplanebody-frame, or the like, comprising a pluralit of transversely disposedjig sets mounted in suitable longitudinally spaced relation to eachother, each jig set comprising a fixed transverse rail, a pair oftransversely opposed jig standards slidably mounted on said rail formovement rtOWELI'Cl each other, stop means for determinface of each jigstandard, means for slidably supporting said stem and its fork-arms, andan eccentric cam mechanism for imparting desired movement to said stemand its fork arms.

7. A system of jigs for assembling the'elements of an aeroplanebody-frame, or the like, comprising a plurality of transversely disposedjig sets mounted in suitable longitudinally spaced relation to eachother, each jig set comprising a fixed transverse rail, a pair oftransversely opposed jig standards slidably mounted on said rail formovement toward each other, stop means for determining the normalretracted position of said jig stand-ards, lever mechanisms pivoted tothe ends of said rail and interconnected with said jig standards forimparting movement thereto, spring means for assisting the forwardmovement of each jig standard, looking mechanism for clamping said jigstandards in their forwardly moved positions, a templet-member securedto said rail intermediate of said opposed jig standards for determiningthe limits of the forward movement of said standards, each jig standardjection from the outer face thereof, a spring means arranged betweensaid rear guideblock and said shoulder of said stem for imparting aforward thrust to the latter, an eccentric cam mechanism connected withthe rearward end of said stem to cooperate with said rear guide-blockfor retracting said stem to withdraw said fork arms from proj ectedposition relative to said forward guide-block, and templet members fixedupon said jig standards intermediate said upper and lower forkmechanisms for determining the operative position of said forkmechanisms relative to each other and to the fork mechanisms ofassociated jig sets.

8. A system of jigs for assembling the elements of an aeroplanebody-frame, or the like, comprising a plurality of normally alined andparallel jig standards, each jig standard having upper and lower forkmechanisms for embracing and holding the longitudinal chords of anaeroplane bodyframe in a desired produced curvature in vertical plane,and means for moving said jig standards inwardly in relative varyingdegrees to produce a desired curvature of said chords in horizontalplane.

9. A system of jigs for assembling the elements of an aeroplanebody-frame, or the like, comprising a plurality of normally alined andparallel jig standards, each jig standard having upper and lower forkmechanisms for embracing and holding the longitudinal chords of anaeroplane body-frame in a desired produced curvature in vertical plane,means for moving said jig standards inwardly in relative varying degreesto produce a desired curvature of said chords in horizontal plane, stopmeans for determining the inward movement of each jig standard, andmeans for locking each jig standard in its inwardly moved position.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereuntoset my hand this 8th day of November, 1918.

GEORGES RIFFLARD.

